AN: For all of you who were patent.. more shippy goodness.
Go Fish
"Okay, I'm gonna get this up to the lab for analysis." Sam tells Jack of the ZPM they had apparently gone back in time to get.
Jack swipes the box away. He knows her. "No! I'll take it. There's a whole room full of geeks up there just dyin' to get their hands on this." He grins. "You've got packin' to do." He says with a cheeky grin as he passes her.
Sam looks at him annoyed, but smiles in amusement as he passes by. He very discreetly had grabbed her ass behind the table where the security cameras wouldn't see it.
"You're sure you will be all right?" Sam asked Marge.
"I'm positive, doll. Someone needs to collect the rent on this place until you come back." she said, waving her hand referring to the bungalow with boxes scattered about.
Jacob's memorial at Arlington had been last week. Catherine had passed within days of her dad and they had decided Daniel would represent the family at hers. Ernest had understood their situation. There was no way she could attend both and Jack wasn't going to let her attend alone with just Grace as Mark was unable to get the time off even for his father's memorial. Jacob never did get to drive up to California to see him and now Sam had to explain a lot of things to her younger brother. Starting with… Sam didn't even know where to start.
"I just worry that I should take you with me or leave Grace here entirely."
"Sam, let her finish out the school year. I'll drive out a few days after. She'll be fine."
Jack bounded up the porch and poked his head into the open front door. "My two favorite ladies." He said to them and pulled Marge into a hug before going to Sam, sweeping her into his arms dramatically and kissing her.
Sam blushed a little when he released her, not used to him being openly affectionate yet. "What brings you by? You didn't have the day off."
"I did… not. But I am stopping by because Hammond wants to see me in his office pronto so I'm driving to Peterson in about an hour to catch a flight to DC." He explains and starts poking around inside the boxes.
"Did he say why?"
"Uh… no." Jack says but looks thoughtful.
"We aren't in trouble, are we?"
Jack gives her a startled look. "Pretty sure we aren't. He's always looked the other way in the past."
"Right. So why do I have this sinking feeling in my gut that another shoe is going to drop?"
"No idea. I'm not even telling the guys until we get to the cabin as you will officially not be working for me as of then."
"Well it's going to be pretty awkward if you don't." Sam reminds him, her smile amused.
"Why would it…?" Marge asks confused.
"Sleeping arrangements." Sam and Jack say together and both laugh.
Marge chuckles. "I just want you both to know that little girl of yours has been deliriously happy for days now, even with the move to Nevada."
"That's why we haven't told her the rest yet. She's already having trouble not telling everyone and their brother that her parents are back together again." Jack tells her.
"The rest?" Marge asks, pretty sure what he means but wanting to double check.
"We need a little logistic help." Jack says cryptically.
"It doesn't have to be elaborate, in fact… simple is better. We found a pavilion at Cheyenne Canyon Mesa park and a spot in the Garden of The Gods, although someone has to arrive early to shoo tourists away..." Sam hedges.
"Sam…" Marge grins… "Are you telling me I need to help you pick out a nice dress and some flowers by chance?" Marge teases her.
Sam bites her lip and blushes brightly but smiles. "I know it's too soon after calling things off with Pete but it's only going to be the guys, a couple close friends from work and Mark if he can make it out."
"You've talked to him?"
"I told him Pete and I ended things… he ah… told me Pete had already called and that he was honestly surprised I dated him as long as I did when he really thought about it. Apparently he didn't like some of the comments Pete made about Grace"
"But…?"
"No 'but' actually. I told him a lot of the reasons had to do with my feelings for Jack and that we'd probably get married as soon as my transfer papers were official."
Marge grins. "Well, it's about time." She hugs Jack then Sam. "I've got nothing to do during the day anyway. Go on your vacation. I'll handle the venue. Give me colors for what you want and what decoration wise you're thinking of. You'll need to make the final call but I can narrow things down."
"Well this is a lot easier than trying to be at a florist at seven AM." Sam grumbles and Jack pulls her into his arms and nuzzles her neck.
"You didn't want to go anyway."
"You made me go! I tried to put it off."
"You kept putting off breaking things off with him." Jack says, shrugging.
"You knew?" She demands, turning in his arms.
Jack shrugs. "You have a tell."
Sam arches an eyebrow.
"I'm not telling you, it's the only advantage I have, Carter." He yelps.
Marge starts to giggle. "Kids…"
"Yah Carter." Jack said childishly.
Sam huffs.
"Now how do I pick out a dress for Grace without her knowing it's a junior bridesmaid dress?" Marge mused.
"Call Cassie, have her help." Sam suggested.
"Sam… you will tell Cass you got engaged." Marge ordered her.
"Fiinneee…" Sam says but she grins.
"She's going to lose her mind." Jack mused.
"She's going to lose a bet."
"Huh?"
"Her name is on one of the betting squares."
"On that note, Carter, I'll be back in two days. Bring… very skimpy clothing to sleep in." He kisses her and heads out the door.
"Your timing is interesting, Jack. I have a solution for your issue as well." Hammond tells him.
"Oh?" Jack asks him curiously.
"Jack, I'm getting old. I want to retire and spend some time with my grandkids. And I think I could eliminate any insinuation of impropriety for you two." George says smiling.
"Okay. Lay it on me."
"Jack, I want you to take over the position as head of Homeworld Security."
"Come again?"
"You're ready, Jack, and you pretty much have unlimited flight hours so if you want to live in Nevada on the weekends there's no reason you can't spend your days off with your wife."
"Uh…"
"Walter ratted you out when I lost on the betting squares, son. Congratulations. When's the date?"
"We need to pin that down still, sir, but before she moves."
"You only have a couple of weeks. Planning a wedding isn't that easy."
Jack shrugs though. "Easier than you think, we are having it at a park so all we really need is a caterer and photographer."
"And a minister, a cake, flowers…" George reminds him.
"Uh… yah… That's Marge's department while Sam and I go up to the cabin this weekend."
"Sam delegated her own wedding?"
"I think the part she cares about is getting married before she leaves for Nevada."
"Go through Nevada's adoption courts. Colorado took us two years for Cassie." George tells Jack. "And congratulations. I bet Grace is happy she can call you dad in public finally."
Jack gave George a mild look which bordered on 'deer in the headlights'.
"Relax, Jack. I've known for years. Janet told me when she tested the blood on that note and there was a sample that was a near match with yours. The only blood work she had on file that was a match was Grace's."
"She never said anything…" Jack said thoughtfully.
"It was very evident you were surprised to see each other the first day at SGC. Clearly Grace wasn't the product of an ongoing situation therefore it wasn't the business of the Air Force as to who her father was."
"And you still want me for this job?"
"I need someone I can trust to keep secrets for a very long time, Jack." George tells him pointedly.
Jack coughs, embarrassed. "Can I have one of Thor's beaming thingies?"
George chuckles. "Have the base staff make you a cake. It's not their first rodeo for that. I'll cover the catering. If you have Sam get me a menu and the venue and date I'll handle it."
"Thank you, sir." Jack tells him surprised.
"I promised Jake I'd take care of my goddaughter. And I always keep my promises."
Jack nods.
They had gotten to the cabin late midday and taken a long afternoon nap before waking up, making love, and then digging though the groceries they bought to make a simple meal together.
He'd told her in the drive up about Hammond's request and his offer to handle some of the wedding planning. Then he told her about Janet knowing all along. He'd held her hand while she wiped away tears at the loss of Janet.
The next morning both dressed warmly, her thick blue sweater wrapped around her.
"This is great." She told him from the chair next to him.
"I told yah!" He said, excited that Sam actually loved the cabin for itself and not just because she loved him.
"I can't believe we didn't do it years ago." She mused.
"Yes, well, let's not dwell." Jack told her as though all these years had just been an inconvenience nothing more.
Sam chuckled. "Didn't that tape say there were no fish in your pond?" she asked him of the fish plopping in the pond.
Teal'c and Daniel come up behind them, a cooler between them.
They looked at each other, Sam wide eyed, Jack's face a study of 'how bad is this really'? "Close enough." He told her with a shrug.
Sam nods as Jack glanced back at Daniel who pulls out a beer and stands behind Jack. Jack casts his line again. He'd lied about his pond having no fish anyway. He was just bad at catching them. He couldn't wait to tell the guys they were invited to a wedding. One Sam actually wanted to be in.